The word is sometimes used without a definite article as in English: Irak, in Irak. In this case, the genitive is always Iraks, for example Iraks Hauptstadt – "Iraq's capital".

More commonly, however, the definite article is used with the name: der Irak, im Irak. In this case, the genitive usually is des Irak, although des Iraks is also correct: die Hauptstadt des Irak(s) – "the capital of Iraq".